Roche: Youk Set To Rehab, Gonzalez An Outfield Option For Interleague

PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 29: Adrian Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Red Sox gets a rare start in right field against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 29, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Red Sox 2-1. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)Adrian Gonzalez (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)

BOSTON (CBS) — Some news and notes for you as the Red Sox try to beat the Mariners and Mother Nature for their fifth straight win on Tuesday.

–The Sox’ current four-game home winning streak is the longest since July of last season. That, to me, shows just how bad the Sox were at home in August and September of last year and April of this season.

–I’ve been saying it over and over and over again — it’s all about starting pitching with this team. The Sox entered Tuesday looking for their fifth straight “quality start” for the first time since an eight-game stretch from May 22-29 of last season.

–Bobby Valentine said Kevin Youkilis will DH for Pawtucket on Wednesday and go from there. Youk is making great strides and we will get ready for the Youkilis-Middlebrooks decision soon. Does Bobby V stick with Youk if Middlebrooks continues to rake? Tough call. Middlebrooks and Daniel Nava have helped right this Sox ship. Youk is a clean-up hitter when right, though. I at least ease him back and keep Middlebrooks here until Youk can play in back-to-back games, etc.

–Bobby V certainly sounded like he wants David Ortiz to play first and Adrian Gonzalez in the outfield for the upcoming interleague games. (Gonzalez played in the outfield twice last season, though he did not get much action. Prior to last season, he had just one career appearance in the outfield, which came in 2005.)

–Felix Doubront took a ball off the ear from an errant ball hit by a fungo before Tuesday’s game. All indications were that he was fine. If the Sox were in the midst of a losing streak … .

–Bobby V on Beckett vs Seattle: “I think he’s ready to go.”

–Tuesday is Tim Wakefield Day at Fenway. Dave Mellor and his grounds crew had a 49 mowed into the outfield grass in center field. I miss watching Wake throw. A knuckleball is just one if the “cool” things from the sports world.